Tampa Bay Rays defeat Toronto Blue Jays 9-4

The Rays' Matt Joyce slides in to score past Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia on Sean Rodriguez's second-inning single. The Rays then take a 3-1 lead as Desmond Jennings singles to drive in Rodriguez. Associated Press

A good start to the season had quickly turned bad, and between an extended slump at the plate and an unusually bad night in the field, he came into Thursday's finale to the Rays' 10-day, three-city journey with as many hits over his last six games as errors (three). And the Rogers Centre fans, sparse but outspoken, were riding him extensively for it.

But Longoria had the final say, driving in four runs, including a massive homer, to cap the trip with a 9-4 victory over the Blue Jays and send the Rays home with a winning record at 7-6 overall.

"Like I'll always say, it's about winning," the third baseman said. "On a tough road trip, all those day games in a row, all the adversity that we dealt with, to go home with our head above water, so to speak, after a real tough road trip with a two-game winning streak and some good momentum is a big positive."

Longoria took care of the offense, with help from Desmond Jennings, who hit his first homer of 2012 (11th of his career, his sixth against Toronto). Jeremy Hellickson delivered a good-but-not-great start, holding the Jays to three runs (two earned) but working only into the sixth. And of the 10 outs left to the bullpen, J.P. Howell got by far the biggest, retiring Adam Lind on a line drive with the bases loaded to preserve a three-run margin in the sixth.

After losing five of the first six games in Detroit and Boston, the Rays took the finale against the Red Sox and two of three in Toronto to finish the trip 4-6. "A better sounding road trip," manager Joe Maddon said.

After 10 hits in his first 20 at-bats of the season, Longoria had gone cold, with just a 3-for-25 to show for the last week. But he singled in the first to give the Rays the lead; blasted a homer, his first since opening day, to center — the ball striking the façade under the glass of the centerfield restaurant — to extend a 4-3 lead to 6-3 in the fifth; and doubled in a run in the ninth.

"He's definitely going to be there when you need it," Maddon said. "He's not going to be knocked down in any way, shape or form by what's perceived to be a bad day. He's a true professional. He comes ready every day, his work ethic is stellar. So it does not surprise me."

"That's what he can do," first baseman Carlos Peña said. "That's what he does."

Once the Rays got the lead, the challenge was keeping it.

Hellickson was done after walking Yunel Escobar on his 106th pitch in the sixth, his third two-out walk of the night.

"Stupid," Hellickson said.

Maddon plotted to mix and match from there, insisting he would have warmed up three pitchers if there were enough mounds.

He went first to Jake McGee, who allowed a ground ball single to Kelly Johnson. Then Burke Badenhop didn't risk challenging slugger Jose Bautista, walking him on five pitches.

That led to Howell, facing Lind with the bases loaded and the game on the line. Howell got Lind on a liner right at first baseman Peña.

"Anytime I get one of those I'm pretty excited about it," Howell said.

By the end of the night, all the Rays were excited based on the noise coming from their clubhouse. And the relative lack of it from the crowd.

"They're never going to stop," Longoria said. "But to silence them a little bit is a good thing."

Having lost a pair of close games, the Rays will try again tonight to beat the Red Sox, and will have LHP Blake Snell on the mound.SS Willy Adames is in the lineup for the Rays for the third and what is expected to be the final time before being sent...

For two guys who said they didn't make much of matching up, they sure dueled like they did in Boston's 4-1 victory that was decided after they left.Chris Archer, the Rays current top starter, worked six impressive innings, allowing one run and four h...

ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays' pitching rotation for the weekend series against the Orioles could have a familiar look: Romo, Romo, Romo.Manager Kevin Cash said using veteran right-handed reliever Sergio Romo as the "opener" in all three upcoming g...

ST. PETERSBURG — Willy Adames was so excited to be in the big leagues, even if was for just a three-day cameo callup. So thrilled to make a smashing debut with a homer on Tuesday. So proud to have his parents and sister fly in from the Dom...

In a way, the timing of RHP Jake Faria's oblique injury seemed manageable in that RHP Nathan Eovaldi is close to coming off the disabled list and can step in. But on the other hand, the Rays finally could have four regular starters. Imagine that.Ther...

UPDATE, 5:32: Faria is looking at at extended absence, potentially into August. Cash said an estimate of 6-8 weeks was on the optimistic side. "From what we found out he got it pretty good," Cash said. "So it could be a little bit longer than t...

UPDATE, 5:18: Ramos' bruised left thumb is feeling better and though he's not in the lineup Cash said he is available for emergency duty. … OF Carlos Gomez was set to run the bases today as the next test of his strained groin. … Cash said...

Whatever pain RHP Jake Faria was feeling as a result of the oblique muscle on the left side he strained throwing a fourth-inning slider to Boston's Hanley Ramirez couldn't compare to the hurt in his heart.Forced to leave Tuesday's game and likely hea...

ST. PETERSBURG — Top prospect Willy Adames is only going to get to stay with the Rays for a few days, so good for him for making the most of it with a home run in his first big-league game, and off Red Sox ace Chris Sale no less.But the good fe...

Marc Topkin's takeaways from Rays 4-2 loss to Red Sox on Tuesday:* The Rays record against a Red Sox team they consider a measuring stick doesn't look very good at 3-8. But, as manager Kevin Cash and several players pointed out, there is some consola...

Our partner @Sportsmanias is a great way to follow Tampa Bay's favorite teams and keep up with all of the Times/tampabay.com sports coverage. Get the app here.

About the Tampa Bay Rays Section

Now that the 2016 season is in the books for the Tampa Bay Rays, what will the Rays do in the offseason to prepare for 2017? Which players will be back? Which won't? What additions will be made? Come here to follow Tampa Bay Rays news at Tropicana Field and beyond.